Candidates demonstrate the ability to develop a collection of reading and information materials in print and digital formats that support the diverse developmental, cultural, social, and linguistic needs of P-12 students and their communities.
Reflection
“We read to know we are not alone.” - C.S. Lewis
When students are asked to choose a book from the library, they use a variety of criteria to make their choice. Some want to learn about new cultures, some want characters who are just like them, some prefer non-fiction and biographies, some just want the information that will complete their assignment, while others want tales of magical places. The joy of a library collection is that it contains all of the above. But meeting the needs of the library’s patrons can be a challenge when dealing with the needs generated by different languages, abilities, religions, cultural values, and the diverse home life of our students. |
Artifacts
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When I was creating my selection criteria, I realized that there were so many factors to consider when making choices for my library, and that I was going to have to be very intentional with my actions if I was going to succeed at creating a space that helps kids seek information.
We started talking about selection criteria in my first class at McDaniel. We created a list of criteria, and I was really proud of mine…until I had to use it. I found it to be both too broad, and yet confining at the same time. I ended up rethinking and rewriting my criteria list two semesters later, adding in the knowledge that I had gained from conversations with other media specialists, and class assignments. It is this selection criteria that I was able to use while creating my materials order for SLM 506 and then later, while working on the RHS book order during my internship.
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While working on the book order, I had a lot to consider. I had just finished my school analysis so I had a good grasp on the curriculum. Many of the books that I chose connect back to some aspect of the curriculum. I also knew that our library was lacking in books discussing real issues like sexual preference and homelessness, even though students consistently asked for them. I was able to find some great books like I am J by Chris Beam, and Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray. I was also able to support a world awareness with books like Lost Boy, Lost Girl: Escaping Civil War in Sudan by Jon Bul Dau & Martha Arual Akech, and the graphic novel Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence by Geoffrey Canada & Jamar Nicholas. When I finished the book order I was very proud of the result and was excited to share my list with the librarians at my school.
I was really glad that I had this assignment, because during my internship one of my primary jobs was to create and add to the book order for the year. I have included an excerpt from my Internship Learning log below...
I was really glad that I had this assignment, because during my internship one of my primary jobs was to create and add to the book order for the year. I have included an excerpt from my Internship Learning log below...
I also spent a portion of this month working on the book order. We have $5,000 to spend by December. I really like how our library does book orders. Everyone has access to the same cart and then they divide up to review sources and conquer. Lisa is in charge of student requests. She did a mini-lesson with the reading class that allowed them to look through the recent SLJ and make requests based on the reviews found there. I love that students are helping in book selection. Binki has been in charge of contacting the different departments for different curricular book requests. This has been interesting because you are starting with a book and then finding a review, which is the opposite of the normal process. I was put in charge of the YALSA magazines as well as hunting for non-fiction resources. It is interesting how books move in trends…tons of dystopia novels right now. The rule is that if you are positive about a review, order it. If you question the review then it gets flagged and shared with the other specialist. We are at $1,500 as of the end of September. |
The RHS book order was a great experience and I learned a lot. I am grateful that librarians have resources like VOYA and School Library Journal to help with the process because there is so much out there. When we talked with the students in the remedial reading class we learned that many of our ESOL students would love to have books available in Spanish and a few other languages. We were able to order copies of popular books like the Hunger Games and a few others to meet their needs. We also learned, while communicating with teachers and special educators, that there needed to be a few more non-fiction resources available at lower reading levels to meet the differentiated needs of our student population. This was great feedback because it directed us to books that we would not generally order for a High School Library. The librarians had also noticed an increase in requests for audio books over the last year. We made sure that we had audio copies of all of the curricular text as well as some of the more popular novels to meet the needs of our auditory learners. In the end, we were able to spend our budget and buy a new online database that will update some of our reference books that we have not been able to afford. When the boxes of books came in in January, it was like Christmas. All of the hard work paid off. Now every time I walk past the media center and see a book I put on the book list, I get a little excited.
Both the Selection and Use Book Order and the internship were essential to my future success as a media specialist. I was not aware of how much work went into the ordering and I have learned that it is an ongoing process. My librarians keep a running wish list for the library. This allows them to respond quickly if there are excess funds, but also gives a great starting point when beginning the year's book order. I have already started a list of resources that I think would be great for next year. I am really proud of my work and ready to take on my own collection.
Both the Selection and Use Book Order and the internship were essential to my future success as a media specialist. I was not aware of how much work went into the ordering and I have learned that it is an ongoing process. My librarians keep a running wish list for the library. This allows them to respond quickly if there are excess funds, but also gives a great starting point when beginning the year's book order. I have already started a list of resources that I think would be great for next year. I am really proud of my work and ready to take on my own collection.